Ephesians 4:11-13 says, "And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ."

A bishop is not a high and haughty office. A bishop is a chief shepherd, modeled after our only Chief Shepherd, Jesus Christ. He is first and foremost a baptized child of God. He is confirmed in the Faith. He may have served as an Acolyte in his youth, graduated to Crucifer and then a Thurifer. As a young laymen, he may have been a Cantor, chanting the Psalms, a Parish Clerk, reading the Epistle, or perhaps even a Warden of the church. He may have also led small groups in his home.

At ordination he receives the grace to read the Gospel and to teach as a Deacon. Then after a year, typically, he receives the grace to administer the Sacrament of the Body and Blood of Christ. So he is also a priest. Then a priest, after having been tested by time and his peers is given the grace to Confirm and strengthen God's flock with the Truth.

A bishop is a man. He is called to be a humble and holy man. But in the end, like his forbears, the Apostles, he is simply a follower of Jesus Christ.

He is further supported in His ministry by others. Women play a tremendous role in the operation of the Church. They teach and instruct. They beautify the church with the care of vestments, ornaments, the church grounds, and their love for people. Women are the heart of the church, just as Our Lady is the heart of the Catholic Church. Women serve in Vestry. Women team-lead home groups. Women lead the future generation to Jesus Christ by their godly example and ministry of prayer.

We believe that every boy and girl, man and woman, deserves to be equipped for ministry. They must be challenged to grow in ministry and given more responsibility the older they get. And the equipment for service, as well as the service itself, ought never to cease. Everyone in our congregation has a mission and a ministry.

We invite you to join with us and find out what your mission and ministry is, if you do not know it. God has a plan for even the most disabled person. He has a plan for the most mentally challenged. Following Jesus is not just for the genius or the athlete, it is for everyone. It is for you as well. You are invited.